Weekend Open Thread: Holiday Wrap-Up & TV Show Recommendations

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Those of you who subscribe to my newsletter already know that my holiday trip to Missouri was filled with trips to Cracker Barrel and Steak-n-Shake, the casino in St. Charles, a trip to a suburban mall, and lots of family time (there was also some wine). What I didn’t mention is that I received two purses that I really wanted (one from Drew and one from my parents), a gift certificate for a massage (from my sister), and all the Burt’s Bees lip balm I will need until the next presidential election.

The holidays also marked the first time I took a true break from this site. In two years, I don’t think I’d missed more than one non-holiday or weekend day in a row of not posting new content. Even when I was on “maternity leave,” I was still working on the site every day, something I sort of regret in retrospect, but live and learn, right? Anyway, I know the work I do here isn’t rocket science or manual labor or a full-time job or anything, but still, the week and a half away was much-needed and well-appreciated. And, look! You all are still here! (Back when I launched this site, I was afraid if I missed a couple days of posting, even when I had a brand new baby, you’d leave me. Abandonment issues, maybe?).

Anyhoo. We still need to take down our Christmas tree and put away the holiday decorations, which I’m sure we’ll do this weekend. I have a few thank you cards to write and about five pounds of holiday weight to lose. But it will all get done. For now, I’m happy to have the pressure of Christmas shopping and traveling and, yes, even socializing, behind us. And while winter is my least favorite season, I can’t say I’m not looking forward to a few quiet nights and weekends at home with some hot chocolate — excuse me, I mean sipping chocolate — and a movie or a new TV show.

Speaking of, Drew and I are in the market for a great TV show to sink our teeth into — preferably one that has at least one season out on DVD. Some of our favorites: “Breaking Bad,” “Mad Men,” “Homeland,” “Six Feet Under” (RIP). We’re excited about the return of “Downton Abbey” and “Girls” (maybe me more than Drew). Oh, and “The Bachelor,” which Drew will now admit to being a fan of. Shows we’ve tried to get into and couldn’t: “The Wire” (I know); “Empire Boardwalk” (I think we may give this one another go); “Dexter” (watched the whole first season and just wasn’t feelin’ it); and “Walking Dead.” Are we crazy for letting those go? Everyone always says so. Neither one of us is really into sci-fi or fantasy, but if there are good dramas or comedies you recommend, we’re all ears.

Like I’ve been telling everyone in my life this week, I started watching True Blood on Saturday and I cannot stop! It’s so good! I would feel guilty about watching so much TV over the holidays, but my sister reminded me that the Holidays is the perfect time to do TV marathons. I didn’t like The Wire either, and I stopped watching Dexter halfway through the 2nd season because his sister got on my nerves (worst actress, ever).

I’m also excited for Downton Abbey and Girls. While I think a lot of people criticize Girls, and not ALL of it has directly related to my life in particular, there are a lot of similar situations I’ve been in (currently and when I was in college). Plus I think it’s funny!

Well, if you come help me pack like katie did, i’ll MAKE you take boxes and boxes of shit I want to get rid of but want to know it’s going to a good home. katie, i can’t remember, did I get you to take all those adorable hats that I think would go so well with your beautiful face? you guys, katie has a beautiful face — she really should wear hats because they draw attention to her beautiful face. But NOOOOOO, she will not listen to me. And all those beautiful hats just sitting there going to waste, what a shame.

Oh Wendy give the Walking Dead another chance!! It might be my favorite show ever. I have no recommendations though. We’re currently working our way through It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia for the 12th time.

I’d keep going with The Wire if you didn’t watch more than the first three or four eps. It gets SOO GOOD. Battlestar Galactica (2000s) is another one that I loved, even though I’m not into Sci-Fi (or at least hardcore sci-fi). It gets weird, but it keeps you watching. I suggest attempting the 1.5 hour miniseries opener, and if you are meh, don’t watch the rest.

Firefly (again, not-hardcore sci-fi, really fun) and Party Down (for comedy, it’s hysterical) are other really good ones. I miss having a show I’m all invested in.

I was going to suggest Battlestar as well. My husband and I watched the first couple of episodes together and then the next night I found it he watched 6 episodes while I was at work because he got completely hooked (ala that Portlandia skit).
I would also second Firefly and suggest the new BBC Sherlock Holmes. If you want a funny comedy I would suggest FX Archer (somewhat sophomoric but really really funny plus it has a number of people from the Arrested Development cast)

Some couple-friends of mine had a rule that they weren’t allowed to watch separately; they had to wait for each other. Thank God I was single when I was watching, b/c I never could’ve waited for both of us to be free!

I love Sherlock! (Who doesn’t, right?) It can be convoluted, but it’s always entertaining and the actors are crazy good. It sucks there won’t be new episodes for like another year! 🙁

I can recommend The Borgias. Only two seasons so far, so only about 20 episodes total, but the third season should be starting this spring, if Showtime sticks to its previous schedule. The second season is better than the first, IMO. Jeremy Irons is always great, but he should win an Emmy for his performance in the second-season finale, it was that good. And the guy who plays Cesare … OMFG he’s hot!!!!!

LOVE the mini clutch! I got a similar one and can’t get enough of it. I’ll tru to link it too. ‘cobble_hill_-_ellen’_leather_crossbody_bag:340291&cm_pla=bags:women:handbag&cm_ven=Google_Product_Ads&mr:ad=23677364033&mr:adType=pla&mr:filter=51404991353&mr:keyword=&mr:match=&mr:referralID=NA&mr:trackingCode=DC8C5738-3654-E111-9E12-001517B1882A&origin=pla

I feel like the one-upping is more about subject matter/consistently doing it. Like, with the bags, it’s not terribly serious (and usual lurkers like me love to look at all the links!), so I don’t think it counts. But if someone were trying to tell you about how their terrible boss left them in tears and then you were to immediately respond with something about how your boyfriend upset you, that would be annoying. Or if you were to continually post things that you loved EVERY time Wendy posted something she liked. You know? I don’t think I can articulate it well, but there’s a definite difference in my mind between small comparisons that happen every once in a while and continual and/or serious comparisons.

Thanks for replying qm. Its annoying that I can’t determine the difference of a back and forth discussion and one upping. I guess frequency has a lot to do with it. Or if its a serious topic/someone’s crying or whatever.

I think my nose is dead. Often throughout the day I’ll scratch it or wipe with my hands because it itches or whatever and when I touch it I’m shocked a little by how COLD it is. Not “shocked” I guess but it’s noticeable – damn, my nose is freezing cold, like it’s on a dead body or something. It’s creepy. No other part of my body is that cold. Do you think my nose is dead? Do you guys have cold noses? Everybody, touch yournose and let me know if it’s freezing cold. Maybe your nose is dead too.

I think people who get annoyed by everyhing are annoying. Don’t you? … It’s like they go out of their way to bitch and complain about people. When it’s so much easier to just…well, one up someone or change the convo, haha.

i think the major difference is a one-up situation is me saying “omg im so upset about this” and you saying “oh, you think YOUR upset? no, please listen to me and why i am upset way more then you are!”

something like this, “omg i love that bag!” “me too! i also love this bag!” “bags are awesome!”- not one-upping.

I love it too. It’s the first cross body bag I’ve owned and it’s very comfortable and just the right size for running around the neighborhood sans baby (I use a bigger bag for commuting so I can pack a book, and with Jackson I use a diaper bag or tote).

If I’m thinking of the right Madewell tote, try Gap or C Wonder. I got a C Wonder one for like $10 after sale once. Its obv not real leather, but has held up nicely. I do the tote and small bag now, so much easier!

Yup, that’s the one I was thinking of. LL Bean totes will last forever too. I’m getting excited just typing about bags. I need help.
Tried to find the c wonder one I was talking about, but its not on their website anymore. They have some other cute ones though.

We also love Breaking Bad, Homeland and Mad Men, and we LOVE (probably even more than the others) Walking Dead, so totally give it another chance!!! I quite liked Revenge as well (only seen Season 1 so far). Oh and right now we´re loving (guiltily) the Vampire DIaries.:)

JK, if you have Netflix (or the equivalent), you might like Death Valley. It’s the faux-documentary style of Parks and Rec with the zombies and monsters of The Walking Dead or Vampire Diaries. It’s actually an MTV show they only made one season of, but it’s absolutely hilarious with some surprising drama.

How about The Good Wife? The love triangle between Alicia-Peter-Will got me so hot and bothered. What sucks about that show is they tease the shit out of you. Only in a few episodes do you get to see some steamy things. … But I kind of lost interest this past year so I guess I can only recommend the first two or three seasons.

You know what show I love? Southland. I’m not usually a police-drama kind of girl – I stick to Girls, Mad Men, … and shitty things like the new 90210. But I love Southland. Is that still on?

I’ve been looking into http://www.healthywage.com for a semi-competitive way to lose weight. Seems like a fun idea if anyone is looking for incentive to lose weight.

As for tv shows – Being Human (US version), Warehouse 13, Lost Girl and Alphas should be starting up again (SyFy channel). Haven should be having their season finale soon (SyFy channel). Doctor Who should hopefully start picking up new episodes this spring/summer (I hope, I hope, I hope). In the mean time, I’m rewatching old seasons, and I think I’ve got a new conspiracy theory about the GI and the snowmen. When I told the SO about it, it drove him nuts because it was so obvious, yet so convoluted, he thinks I’m right. *does a happy dance* For anyone who watches Doctor Who – watch season (series) 4, episode “The End of Time”. That’s my only clue to you all. For now.

My decorations are still up. I pick Jake up on Tuesday night/Wednesday morning and fly back to Anchorage Wednesday morning. I’ll be back in Anchorage on Wednesday night and go back to work Thursday morning. Woo hoo. Kids go back to school on Monday (except Jake, he goes back a week later because of all this travel).

Been too busy to look. Plus, I didn’t want to be disappointed by how long I have to wait to finish up season 7 (seriously, 2 fucking years to finish one season?). I had a hard enough time letting go of Amy and Rory. I hope that this doesn’t mean that River Song is dropped from the rolls. I am still hoping for an episode (or three) with River AND Captain Jack helping out. There’s some naughty fan-fic waiting to be written! *laugh* Rumors of Jenny coming back (the clone-daughter who is really Tenant’s wife and the 5th Doctor’s actor’s daughter – talk about convoluted!) are suspenseful enough.

NCIS! I started watching the re-runs on Comcast & am addicted enough to want to buy all the DVDs. The original one: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0364845/ (sorry, I am link -happy) I don’t know if you’re into crime shows, but this isn’t just another churned-out series for murder junkies. The characters are very good, in my opinion. And I happen to think Mark Harmon & Michael Weatherly are extremely attractive…so that helps.

my goal (?) this year is to follow a few tv shows- like actually follow them week to week.

the wedding band is really funny, i think- im going to try to keep up with that one (but i have been failing so far). the americans is premeiring soon, and that one looks awesome! its about russians pretending to be americans during the cold war (i think the cold war…). and then also there was one more and i cant think of it! this is why i suck at watching tv!!

We watched Downton Abbey too and now I’m kind of sad it’s over when it is just ready to start here. We also watched Merlin and saw the final episode and it is done and over and we are nearly through with Eureka and then we don’t know what we’ll watch.

I had been watching it online because I’m a cheater and didn’t have cable anyway until a few months ago. I have no idea what season it is on here (they show it on SyFy right?). But I was up to season 5.

American Horror Story is a great show. Season one is on DVD. They are treating this “series” as repertory theatre on tv, as in season 2 which is currently on, has nothing to do with what happened in season 1, however there are the many of the same actors in each season. For those who aren’t horror fans, I’d still recommend this because it’s more cerebral than blood and guts/gore. If you do decide to watch it, do not start watching mid-season, you’ll be lost, confused and any surprises or twists will be lost.

It’s only on its first season, but The Mindy Project is hilarious. Mindy Kaling is perfect in it. There’s always the old stand-by Parks and Rec, too. My roommate and I watched all of the seasons on Netflix this past semester as stress-relief.

you know, i love sci-fi and horror, and i didnt feel Dexter either. I did manage to get through the first season, and part of the second, but meh. same with Walking Dead. we watched the first few episodes, and while i think i’ll try it again, no spark.

What Rachel said, the Tudors was AWESOME. my current faves are Supernatural, and Lost Girl. (yep, i’m the geek girl that loved Buffy too.. lol)

I am also a big fan of Six Feet Under – too bad you didn’t like Dexter! If you can shake Jeremy Sisto’s Billy character (Brenda’s brother), I would recommend Suburgatory. It’s much funnier than what I thought it wa going to be. Also, Parks and Rec (but avoid the first season if you can…) and Doctor Who for laughs, Sherlock for serious/witty. I have a list of about 15 others, but I’ll refrain. If you don’t mind the show already being over, Coupling is hilarious and I’ve watched each episode about 10 times – it’s not hard since there’s less than 30 episodes.

And for those who like sci-fi, I recommend Supernatural. It’s really funny and something both me (who loves Doctor Who, Community) and my boyfriend (Buffy, Star Trek), with our wildly differing tastes, can agree on.

Definitely! Sons of Anarchy will get you hooked immediately if you’re ok with violence, and jax teller is smokin hot. Just try the first episode- if you hate it you won’t like the rest of the show. I guiltily love vampire diaries as well, and stoked about Downton Abbey coming back.

Can I whine for a second? I’m getting sick, I’m super behind at work and can not catch up, I’m cold, my apartment is a mess, UGHHH. And I HAVE to finish planning this damn wedding! Like under 5 months to go and I have so so so much to figure out and I don’t care anymore. blah. I need another holiday week.

Oh and we gave up drinking for the month of January. It’s day two and it blows. And I had a beer on day one. UGH.

*hug* You can handle a sober January. I’ll do it with you, if you’d like. Or, since I don’t drink much anyways, I’ll give something else up for January (my colored pens, my dubious lack of fashion, my *sob* soda). Let me know, I’ll be your partner in “sobriety”.

I feel ya GG–I’m not going 100% sober, but I’m DEF cutting back on booze this month. Its hard. I’m trying to limit myself to 4 drinks a week–so I have to plan accordingly. I’m switching to juice/mocktails in public settings and yeah, it sounds daunting. I also think going sober for January is rough with football events. IDK, it just feels SO natural to take a sip of something post a TD, so I get missing that. I am giving myself 2 drinks (something I drink less of anyway–whether its wine + seltzer for a sparkling drink, or a bitter beer) and I hope that lasts me through the entire Seahawks game–also, I can’t show up drunk on anything other than adrenaline for the Downton watch party (complete with tea and sandwiches) later, its not something cousin violet would approve of.

I’ve been watching a lot of tv because I caught the flu while home for Christmas. Unfortunately nothing good, I did watch a lot of 7th heaven and lifetime movies while on the couch. I think you can fall asleep during any of them and wake up during another and not really feel like you missed much. Or maybe that’s just the medicine head talking!

I was very glad to have letters to read this week even if I was too sick (I’m done whining I swear, but man the flu is awful) to form full sentences and comment.

Second this! I know she said they don’t like fantasy, but I have a friend who absolutely *hates* fantasy and she still likes GoT. It’s an amazing show, and really not all that fantasy-y. More like a drama that just happens to be set in medieval times.

I really tried with the Wire, but it was too heavy for me, like I would become an emotional wreck after watching an episode!

Also, if you like the Wire have you seen Treme? Its all about post-Katrina NOLA and its sooo good, plus its all about musicians so it has just great music!
…although we stopped watching it when it also got to be a bit too much for us to handle, we mostly just watch Parks and Rec and 30 Rock!

1) The Big Bang Theory
2) Suits (It’s like House but with Lawyers)
3) Revenge
4) Once Upon a Time
5) 2 Broke Girls
6) Lie to Me
7) Leverage (OMG I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Parker!!!)
8) Chuck (The last season or two was terrible though 🙁 )
9) Burn Notice
10) Sherlock (le swoon)
11) How I met Your Mother
12) My husband loves The New Girl, I’m not into it though

For reality tv:

1) Tanked! (Think awesome aquariums and fish tanks)
2) Penn and Teller Fool Us
3) Ink Master or Best Ink (The guy who did my first tat was on season two of Ink Master)
4) Carrier (Its a multi-episode documentary of life on an US Aircraft Carrier)
5) Duck Dynasty (This is all my husband)

It’s a British comedy but it is probably one of the most heartwarming shows I’ve ever watched. It’s about two people that flirt over the phone and after several months they finally meet up in person and sparks fly. Their romance is cute but the best part of the show is the supporting cast. The series beautifully portrays how a marriage isn’t just a union between two people but their friends and family coming together as well.

I can’t wait for Downton Abbey this sunday!! I hope I can get home from work (ugh deadlines!) in time and not miss anything. I also LOVE The Mindy Project!!! I love Mindy Kaling.
I also can’t wait for Mad Men to return.
I have On Demand, (but only basic cable), but my regular shows to watch are American Horror Story (so campy but I love it), Ghost Adventures (yeah, I know), and Say Yes to the Dress. Those are definitely my not-to-miss shows.

One of the funniest television series I’ve seen is No Heroics. It is a British mini-series that involves very flawed superheroes and their crappy relationships. Unfortunately there are only six episodes.

Another series I really like is Louie. It is a comedy based on the life of comedian Louis C.K. beginning shortly after his divorce. Truthfully, it takes a few episodes to get into the show. I actually think the show is much funnier than his stand-up, which can be pretty raunchy. I think the show has gotten progressively better so I recommend starting with season two.

West Wing hit Netflix on demand over the holidays, which may be the best Christmas gift I could have asked for (I was about to buy all 7 seasons on DVD). Aaron Sorkin is amazing, and it’s the best dialogue ever. If you enjoyed The American President, you’ll love WW.

Game of Thrones is Mr. LANYs show of choice now. He’s obsessed (and season 1 is out on itunes, season 2 is available if you know anyone who knows anything about computers), and even I have to admit it’s a pretty awesome show.

Game of Thrones, True Blood (except the last two season, meh), The Big C, and Shameless. Shameless is probably my favorite out of the three. The family is such a loveable, hot mess, and William Macy just makes the whole show.

LUTHER! Seriously, it’s one of the best drama shows I’ve ever seen…it has intrigue, fascinatingly fucked up characters (hello Alice and Luther himself at times), great acting, and Idris Elba. Did I mention Idris Elba :)? Granted, it’s a British series so there are only about 12 episodes so far (I think every season is 6 episodes).

Burn Notice is cheesy, convoluted fun. It’s the side characters that make that show for me…Sam Axe and Michael’s mom. Arrested Development is hilarious, and they FINALLY went back and filmed a final season that will be on Netflix in 2013. I really love the American version of Shameless, although I think it takes several episodes to get into.

I second the recs for The West Wing, The Good Wife and Leverage. Also, if you like comedy and drama I bet you’d like Castle. IMHO it’s a perfect mix of serious crime drama with good plot, combined with really funny character moments. Really good acting too. I also really enjoy White Collar, Grey’s Anatomy and Rizzoli and Isles (cheesy but fun!).

Community! It’s not for everyone, because the humor is kinda meta, but it’s the type of show that loves movies and tv and plays a lot of homages to them. Elementary (a Sherlock adaptation in New York) is in its first season, but the characters are so good and the Watson is Lucy Lui! Don’t Trust the B in Apt 23 is like a live action cartoon. It’s completely ridiculous. I’ve heard Happy Endings is amazing.

Hi there 🙂 I like the show Being Human, but it’s fantasy/sci-fi, which I usually dont get into. I hope everyone had a good holiday season! It was my husband’s first Christmas home in a few years so mine was really great (despite the pneumonia and bronchitis that I had). I’ve missed commenting on DA but I’m at a new job where I can’t be on, although I read it every day still. It’s just a pain to comment with my phone on my breaks. Miss you guys!

Hijack.
Hey DWers, I need help. My best friend of 20 years is getting married next weekend. Everything left on their registry is boring household crap. I mean that stuff is fine and necessary… but I want to get them something different. Any ideas?

Cash or a check is always a good gift for a wedding. I know people think it’s impersonal, but it’s nice to not have to lug a bunch of gifts home from the reception.

If you’re set on buying something for them, I would buy something personalized based on what you know about them. Think of some mutual interest and base your gift on that. One my best friends knows I can’t cook, so she filled up this vintage picnic basket with recipes, homemade sauce, jam, pancake mix, spices, etc- along with instructions on how to make each one. It was my favorite gift because she knows my husband always busts me about being my personal cook.

Yeah I was thinking of doing cash along with a less expensive gift (rather than spend all the money on a big gift) because I know they probably could use the money (can’t everyone?) but don’t want to just hand them a check.

i hear you on boring registry stuff, haha. like, its not special enough of a gift for a wedding gift! the last time this happened we (my family) just gave a wad of cash- it was pretty cool, coming from me, my mom, and my dad (my sister might have even chipped in…) we ended up with a pretty thick card! haha.. along the cash lines, if you wanted to you could make them like a cash “bouquet”. go online and figure out how to fold money in a cool way.. that is always neat.

i agree with the others in terms of knowing her and using that info to get her something special. i love photos and scrapbooking, so in your shoes i would probably get her a frame and fill it with a picture of us as kids (or like the first picture you two took together or something, 20 years ago), and then another one of a recent picture of the two of you, and then add in like a little paragraph about being there since the beginning and excited for the chapters ahead or something sweet and sentimental like that.

i have read about other neat gifts, like date nights for a year with restaurant.com gift certificates, basket- type things like mandalee said… i had a cool idea to buy a bride and groom a case of wine. that could be neat if you framed it like “here are your once a month wine night for the first year of you marriage” and then decorate a special bottle for their one year anniversary… there are so many things you could do, especially if you know her well.

To be honest, I don’t see what’s wrong with boring household crap. It’s what they want. Why wouldn’t you give them something that they wanted? You know they’ll like your gift right away.

Besides, if you get them a blender and they use it every day, most of those days they’ll think of you. “Oh, this is the blender that SpaceySteph got us for our wedding. I wonder how she’s doing. I’ll give her a call later”. Really, can’t lose with something off of the registry.

Oh I probably should have said, the other complicating factor is that I have to fly, so I probably need to mail it or it has to be small.
That restaurant.com thing is super cool, I’d never heard of it before

Even if it is “boring household crap” chances are if it’s on the registry it is wanted!! I’m super hoping we’re gifted our plates/bowls/etc for our upcoming wedding because they need to be replaced so so bad! Sometimes the “boring” gifts are the most apprecaited because no one else wants to buy them (since they aren’t fuuuuuun). I say, buy what ever amount of the boring stuff is 3/4 of your gift budget and then get some fun hand towels or a cool decorative vase or something.

My soon to be sister in law got us silverware for our shower. I thought it was kinda strange so I asked her why she thought to get us that and she said no one got it for her when she got married and it was one thing they really needed. So “boring” can be super thoughtful.

We found the perfect new favorite TV show this weekend!!! “Billy on the Street” on Fuse TV. It’s awesome! Unfortunately, after goring on it friday and saturday nights, we’re all caught up and have to wait for a new episode now.

It’s a comedy — this guy, Billy, interviews people on the streets of NYC, quizzing them on pop culture and the like. Anyone who loves irreverent humor would like this. It’s so fucking funny. I truly laugh out loud over and over — there aren’t too many TV shows that make me do that.

I pretty much like everything that gets canceled, LoL. I loved Dead Like Me (two seasons), Caprica (19 episodes, I think), Firefly (one season and one movie), Carnivale (two seasons), and Sanctuary (from Syfy, four seasons). Right now though my boyfriend and I are working our way through some Anime, so that usually keeps us occupied when we’re not online or Netflix. I also did like Dexter and Fringe, but stopped watching, so I’ll have to pick those up on Netflix. I’m also probably going to start watching Doctor Who, to see what all the fuss is about.

Right now the only thing that I really watch on TV is NCIS. I don’t really watch TV anymore, except when I really just feel like zoning out (or was watching The 25 Days of Christmas). Plus I go to school and wait tables, so I have a really irregular schedule with some really late nights. I’m just getting into Downton Abbey, but I love historical series, fiction or otherwise. And I can’t wait for The Walking Dead to return either, it’s getting pretty good, although I really hope that Andrea pulls her shit together soon! The only “reality TV” that I watched was also from Syfy (seeing the theme yet?) and it was called Face Off. SO GOOD! And actually focused on the competition, not all of the drama between the cast members!

OH! And I am so excited that hockey is back, even if it’s only for a few months!

Wendy… Start watching 1990s TWIN PEAKS. (Netflix or the GOLD BOX series set.) (There are TWO Pilots and it’s crucial to watch the one in the Gold Box version. The rights to this pilot was in dispute and it is NOT included in the stand alone Season 1 release. version.)

Oh, sure, it goes off the rails in the second season a bit, but its FASCINATING and hypnotic up until the killer is revealed and thus dealt with… Truly television at its strangest and at its best… Every show you mention was HEAVILY influenced by Peaks… (With the possible exception of the wretched GIRLS which seemingly only shamelessly and ineptly rips of Sex And The City. 😉 )

Mad Men, especially, uses A LOT of the same directors and even some cast members have popped up recently as guest stars… The Woman from Don Draper’s past who later shows up at his apartment in MYSTERY DATE last season was Madchen Amick who starred as Shelly Johnson on Twin Peaks. Also, season 5 — Ken’s step father, the man who told Don that “The Letter” doomed the agency and to whom Don later gave an arousing pitch two in COMMISSIONS AND FEES is Ray Wise who was Leland Palmer on Twin Peaks.

Love Twin Peaks! Madchen Amick is also in Damages Season 3, if you haven’t seen that one yet. I’d say she gives one of the best performances of the season (in a season peppered with unbelievable turns from Lily Tomlin, Glenn Close, Tate Donovan, Campbell Scott, Martin Short, and others).

Ok, first of all I agree with all of the recommendations to give Walking Dead another try. I didn’t like it at first either but it really grew on me and now I’m hooked. Also, if you have showtime I would recommend Shameless, Californication, and House of Lies. And lately I’ve been absolutely addicted to How I met your mother. I’m trying to get all of the seasons on DVD so I can catch up! I love that Ted Mosby is from NE Ohio and looking for a woman exactly like ME! 🙂

Late on this thread, but given that I like the same shows you guys seem to like (and have definitely NOT liked the ones you didn’t get into – finished every season of The Wire and STILL pissed that with HUNDREDS of speaking roles, it never passed the Bechdel test), I’ll toss out some recs:

1) The Hour – British drama in the vein of The Newsroom meets Mad Men (period piece set in the 50s/60s), with an undercurrent of intrigue and suspense. Great acting from Romola Garai and Ben Whishaw. Not to be missed.

2) Luther – British drama starring Idris Elba as a troubled detective (great if you love Idris, as I do).

3) Forbrydelsen – Danish drama, adapted to the US (poorly) “The Killing,” follows a different investigation each season as detective Sarah Lund (the ever compelling, ever contemplative Sofie Gråbøl) tracks a new killer/criminal.

4) The Bridge – Swedish/Danish series, about to be adapted to the US (and, from the cast, looks like it’ll be equally bad) surrounding an investigation when two halves of a body are found in the exact middle of the bridge that separates Denmark and Sweden. Two cops (one from each country) must hunt the killer.

5) Borgen – Danish West Wing. Really brilliant show starring Sidse Babett Knudsen (the Danish Meryl Streep), kind of a West Wing meets Newsroom, as we follow the election of the first female Prime Minister in Denmark, and the news network that covers her rise to power (and struggle to retain it). Brilliant acting, by far the best show I’ve seen in years. And, yes, there’s an American remake in the works.

6) The Good Wife – Throwaway/rainy day show following Julianna Margulies as a lawyer and the intriguing Archie Panjabi (as a legal investigator), along with Chrisinte Baranski, Chris Noth, and various other top-notch actors. This one is truly a legal procedural, despite the weird title and poor ad campaigns. Funny, light, easy to get into, not really deep story arcs here.

7) Sons of Anarchy – if you like Boardwalk (and you should watch through season 2 of Boardwalk, btw), Sons is a great drama in a similar sort of “epic violence/drug-running” vein. Lots of great actors, essentially Hamlet on motorcycles.

8) Archer – James Bond meets The Office in cartoon form. Highly irreverent/profane/often offensive humor, but very well-timed and some great comedians in lead roles.

9) Spartacus – Not for everyone. I appreciate this one because of its gratuitous and gorgeous violence and nudity and language; there’s something about a show that basically breaks every rule in American television that is quite guilty pleasure-esque. Not for the faint of heart.

10) Nurse Jackie – Edie Falco steals the show in this taut comedy about a smart and capable nurse struggling with a painkiller addiction.

11) Damages – Great show to revisit, if you haven’t seen it already. Season 1 is arguably the most compelling season of TV drama ever. The structure is unmatched, as each season starts in the future and then works through flashbacks to unravel a crime/trial. Rose Byrne goes toe to toe with the ever-talented Glenn Close. Incredible guest star turns include Ted Danson, Marcia Gay Harden, Dylan Baker, John Goodman, and many more. Really unmissable, worth watching from the beginning.

12) Revisit Dexter, if only for the season starring John Lithgow as the baddie. Dexter ain’t great, and it doesn’t really get better, but this season is the show at its best.

Also, if you’re looking for the internet to recommend things TO you, tastekid.com is a great resource. I often use it when I’m wondering “what movie/show do I need to watch?”

Some of these shows are Netflix-able, some of them you may have to get a little creative online. There are streaming links available for all of these shows.